Ohables newboueg



(N0 ModeL) G. NEWBOURG.

PORTABLE DESK.

No. 327,816. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

LN'VENTOR WITNESSES .Q, ATTORNEYS.

N. Puma Wham Washington. 11 c.

UrTn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES NEXVBOURG, OF BROOKLYN, N E\V YORK.

PORTABLE DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,816, dated October6, 1885.

Application filed October 23, i884. Serial No. 146,283.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES NEwBoURG, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Portable Desks, of which the following is a full, clear,and eXact description.

This invention has for its object the production of a portable disk,which, when not in use, may be readily folded flat, and if only of asmall or moderate size be carried in the pocket, and which, whenadjusted for use, is made self-supporting and readily attachable to theback ofa chair or pew, or to other articles of furniture, and with itsupper surface at a proper inclination for either writing or reading.

The invention consists in certain constructions and combinations ofparts, substantially as hereinafter described, whereby these and otheradvantages are very perfectly secured.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improved desk in its closedcondition, and as supposed to be of a size suitable for reporters usewith a reportersbook in place upon it. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe same, showing the desk in position as adjusted for use and asattached to and supported by the raised back of a bench, pew, or chair.

A B indicate two boards or plates of approximately equal lengths and ofany desired width hinged together at their one end, as at b, and whichmay be strengthened and kept apart, forming a space, c,between them,when closed, by inner cross end strips or projections, (I, said spaceserving, if desired, to hold writing material or paper, either in a bookform or otherwise.

0 is a jointed brace, connecting the two boards A B near their openingor free ends, and here shown as arranged on the one side edge only ofthe boards, and serving to hold the boards at a proper angle in relationwith each other to give an inclined writing or reading surface to theupper board when the desk is adjusted, as in Fig. 2, for use, and whichreadily shut down out of the way when the (No model.)

boards are closed, as in Fig. 1. Other suitable ties, braces, or props,flexible or not, may be used, if desired, and either on one or both sideedges of the desk or at or near their forward ends.

D is a fastening (here shown as a hinged clasp) applied to the one sideedge of the boards opposite the brace C, but which may be of any othersuitable construction, and be otherwise arranged to hold the boardsclosed.

Attached to the forward end of the upper board, A, are two swivel-hoops,EE, arranged so that when turned to point downward, as in Fig. 2, theymay be hitched over the top of the back G of a chair, bench, or pew toform a means of suspending or carrying the desk when in use, while theforward end of the lower board, B, rests against said back to firmlysupport or hold the desk in position. \V hen said hooks, however, areturned, as shown in Fig. 1, into the same line or plane as the upperboard, then they will not interfere with the close or flat closing ofthe desk for carriage in the pocket if the desk be of a suitable sizefor such purpose, or to facilitate packing away if of a larger size, andin any case serving to economize space in or during transportation. Saidhooks, too, when thus adjusted may be used for suspending the desk bywhen not required for use.

If desired, only one hook, centrally arranged, may be used instead oftwo, and the hook or hooks which form a suspension means for the desk,when in use, as an attachment to an article of furniture, may beotherwise constructed and arranged. Thus it or they may be made to foldin between the boards when not in use.

A portable desk of pocket size, constructed as described, will be foundvery useful to stenographers or reporters at places of ub lic meeting byhooking it over the back of a pew, bench, or chair in front, and theupper board may be provided with a cord or strap, e, for carrying areporters book, H. It will also be found very convenient to business menand others when traveling about the city or in railroad-cars and othervehicles, and by forming a steady support will conduce to lcgibility.Commercial travelers, doctors, invalids who are not able to move to afixed table or desk, and clerks in offices where room ICO isrestricted,will likewise find it very serviceable and convenient to maketheir necessary memoranda or writings upon. Its use, in fact, is notrestricted to any particular class of persons for either writing orreading purposes, or as a 1nusic-stand, or as a desk, counter, or otherlike extension, and when not required to be suspended, as described, itmay be used upon the knees or on a table as a simple desk having aninclined top or writing or reading surface.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is.. V

1. In a portable desk, the combination of the upper and lower boardshinged together at one end, and one or more hooks attached to andprojecting from the free end of the upper board for use in suspendingit, sub- A B, of one or more swiveling suspensionhooks, E, applied tothe forward end of the upper board, A, of the desk, essentially as andfor the purposes described.

3. The combination, with the boards A B, hinged together at their rearends, and one or more projecting suspension-hooks applied to the forwardend of the upper one, A, of said boards, of a brace for holding theboards at a proper angle in relation with each other when spread apartto form a desk, essentially as specified.

4:. In a portable desk, the combination of the hinged boards A B, theswiveling hooks E E, the brace G, and the fastening D, substantially asand for the purposes herein described.

CHAS. NEWBOURG.

\Vitnesses:

JNo. MATHEW BITTER, EDGAR TATE.

